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2007 Giacomo Sangiovese Toscana – Episode 121

This is a nice easy drinking Sangiovese from Toscana which rolls in under $10 a bottle. This wine puts most chianti’s to shame under $15. A value wine that you can cook with and drink which is always a good combo.

Is it Chianti or Sangiovese? Just when I thought I knew the difference you go and confuse me. Let me make a guess. Chianti is made with Sangiovese but this one isn’t made in the Chianti area? Nice zoom action.

http://www.corkd.com Jon

I’m gonna head out and find this stuff! Big Sangio fan, but you’re so right…it is hit or miss, especially in this price range

Patrick

Def. the toughest thing is finding a decent low priced one the WL has it in stock still

ErieWineGuy

Nice wine review!

I feel comfortable about knowing about what it tastes like by your comments.

Thanks- I drink my wines not just a taste so usually I have a window of time to talk about them which I think helps- What is new for you in the wine world?

ErieWineGuy

I actually got the wine bug on June 3, 2003.

When I was young, my father purchased juice from a local supplier, and he made wine in 7 barrels in our basement. We had a wine cellar in the basement of our house. I could taste the wine whenever I wanted to(I'm talking mid-late 1960's).

No interest in wine until 2003, when I was reading about the health benefits of wine, thought I would try one. Studied 5 hours all night long after that first wine, and haven't stopped since.

I have been tasting wines from all around France, Italy, some Australia, some South Africa, some west coast, all around the world…. Whenever I taste a wine, I review it, compare it with any other review I can find, go to the local website on it, then take a google map fly-over tour of the region, take a visual tour of the town it's from etc…it's like taking a vacation, built around a wine and where it's from.

I've been very blessed, in that even though I've only worked about 5 weeks in the last 2+ years, I can pretty much afford to buy anything. But in the last 3 weeks or so, I've been busy putting a long-time friend I've been taking care of for 12+ years, into a nursing home. I haven't been trying too much new recently.

However, I find myself strangely drinking more white wine than red. I mean I learned about wine on the dry, tannic, Bordeaux's, Chateauneuf du Pape's, Brunello di Montelcino's…

But now I'm drinking Rieslings, Moscato's, Vinho Verde's and Torrontes.

I mean that in the white wine world, I cut my teeth on Chablis's, white Burgundies, Pouilly-Fume's and Sancerre's

Thank you again for your interest. You can never predict how important your response will mean to a commenter in their life at that moment.

Let's see your website soar!

KAHUNA

That is a great story and all the best to your friend. I find it always amazing how people get into wine and take it in different directions. Nothing like growing up with the Barrels right in the house. I am starting to do more and more of what you do in that researching the wines and areas and the problem for me is that I want to buy an airplane ticket that second.

I enjoy white wine a whole lot however the wife is not such a big fan- we really differ on Rose' I can drink those a few times a week in the summer and she does not care for them that much- The other issue is that I drink them like water- LOL bottle gone way to quick

KAHUNA

That is a great story and all the best to your friend. I find it always amazing how people get into wine and take it in different directions. Nothing like growing up with the Barrels right in the house. I am starting to do more and more of what you do in that researching the wines and areas and the problem for me is that I want to buy an airplane ticket that second.nnI enjoy white wine a whole lot however the wife is not such a big fan- we really differ on Rose’ I can drink those a few times a week in the summer and she does not care for them that much- The other issue is that I drink them like water- LOL bottle gone way to quick

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This site is a place where I will be sharing family recipes and preserving them. Nothing is worse than hearing of family recipes that have died off and with it a part of your family tradition. Also I will be creating some new recipes, trying out others, having fun and connecting with family and friends. There will be videos shot poorly and edited even worse. There will be some wine reviews also, please check back often and feel free to comment.

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Wine Reviews

2005 Bodegas Diaz Bayo Ribera del Duero Nuestro - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (8/15/2010)
very dark in color was a little shocked for some reason - nose attacked with some big blackberry jam and whiff of the 14.5% comes through with a touch of vanilla- The fruit attacks up front and would make you think this is a much younger wine. Great dark fruit - feel to thrown anyone in the description cause they are there. what seperates this from just being a fruit bomb is that it has secondary flavors baking spice and shaved pencil and the oak while present is not overbearing.

There is a bit of a bitterness on the finish and agree this is not a great wine to pair with food in general but I think some smoky bbq or chipotle pork dish at $18 I would re-buy this (90 pts.)

2007 Mockingbird Hill Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (8/12/2010)
very nice cabernet for under $15 - what makes this nice is that the fruit shines through - the nose is a big blueberry pie with a hint of alcohol followed by a beautiful up front fruit attack of cherry with a little pomegranite the mid range of this wine lacks depth and character and the finish rounds out with some tart cassis- what is surprising is that the finish with its in check oak actually lasts a while-going to save some and see if the mid pal rounds out later- nice wine that I would rebuy (87 pts.)

N.V. Ca' Furlan Cuvée Béatrice - Italy, Veneto (7/25/2010)
Really enjoyed this prosecco - color was a light straw color and the nose had some refreshing floral notes and almost a pineapple hint on the nose- I would call the a champagne drinkers prosecco in that is very low on the sweetness scale. This wines starts to change a lot as it warms up and you almost get some of the tropical flavors you would find in a Sauvignon Blanc -nice acidity on the finish- Have had 3 bottles so far and will be getting more for $10 this is a no brainer- Oh and it has a champagne type closure so you do not need a corkscrew like other prosecco's (89 pts.)

2009 Bodegas Ateca / Zabrin Calatayud Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines - Spain, Aragón, Calatayud (7/25/2010)
Another Jorge Ordonez wine that delivers in the sub $10 range- forget sub $10 paid $6.39 for it- I mean come on that is an outright steal - this wine checks in with somenice cherry/rasberry and a hint of the alcohol comes through - there is a pleasant easy drinking nature to this wine that we really enjoyed- the brightness of the fruit was met with a little backbone and its youth is clear on the finish which can show a touch of the 14.5% alcohol. This is a go to wine when you are looking at a Dolcetto or a beaujolais heck if you are a California bright fruit pinot noir drinker and can not find something under $20 to fit you needs for a daily - give this a whirl it may do well for you (86 pts.)

2008 X Winery White X - USA, California, North Coast (7/3/2010)
was very discouraged about the light color of this wine but this really came through with much more flavor than I thought- seems like the extra 4 months in bottle since others have reviewed it have allowed this wine to come together more- I honestly can not see anyone not enjoying this wine- from a wine geek to a novice- I will post my detailed notes a little later but this is a perfect summer party wine for $12 (88 pts.)

2008 Alexander Valley Vineyards Zinfandel Redemption - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley (7/3/2010)
only had one glass of this and it was very nice - some blueberry/plumb on the nose with a touch of spice- dark berry carried through on the taste and this is some nice cracked pepper notes- a little thin before the finish but that may have rounded out as it breathed a little more- very characteristic of Alexander Valley Vineyards with very vineyard driven wines- light touch by the winemaker- for $16-$17 will try another- (88 pts.)

2003 Toad Hollow Pinot Noir Eye of the Toad - USA, California, Sonoma County (7/20/2010)
Toad Hollow is a great spot to stop in at their tasting room in Healdsburg - fun wines and very easy going staff. Sadly this wine was past its prime - was not aweful but just not very interesting- nose was a little bit of floral and the taste was some muted strawberry- current score is not reflective of what this wine once was- Had a few bottles of this over the years and it was an easy drinking, food friendly wine which checked in at 11.5% alcohol - a once fine Rose' (84 pts.)

2007 Buehler Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/3/2010)
dark fruits on the nose backed by a Hi-C brightness felt like I got a whiff of the alcohol on the nose also- but very vibrant nose- FYI this was in decanter fo 1 hour- taste carried through with the dark cherry, pipe tobacco and a little caramel- oak is clearly present but in balance - the only thing is the alcohol on this wine is way to noticeable on the finish at this point- and that rarely bothers me- the finish is the only thing keeping this from a 90 point wine for me as the fruit is very nice-I think this wine would pair very well with some gorgonzole or blue cheeses - At $20-$22 I would try this again for sure- (88 pts.)

2006 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (6/17/2010)
a 375 enjoyed with the wife so only could review based on 1 glass - went very will with grilled pizza-prosciutto topped- really an ideal wine in 375 format some nice cherry on the nose and a little with a hint of cocoa - carried a little earthyness and cherry with a touch of pencil shaving- enjoyed this an was really at 88 but the last few sips it seemed to be opening up a little more-have more bottles and will give some more air time- great food wine (89 pts.)

2006 Marietta Cellars Petite Sirah Alexander Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (7/9/2010)
very dark wine - over ripe plum and blue berry on the nose- enjoyed the fruit of this wine though at times it felt a bit to the Hi-C side had a solid midpallet with a little baking spice mixed- solid tanin - For the price I would try another bottle of this I just felt this bottle was a little to "jammy" to me. This was in the decantor for 45 minutes- If the fruit mellowed this really could become a stellar bottle- next botle will tell if I buy a few to put away-I think many who enjoy big fruit wines will like this a lot- (88 pts.)